As graduation approaches, I find myself experiencing a variety of emotions. Some of these emotions include excitement but also some anxiety regarding the unknown future. However, for the most part I feel prepared to begin my career as a registered nurse. What I am most looking forward to is finally having a job that I am passionate about and is everchanging. Nursing has never been linear in which policies change, new diagnoses arrive, and learning is constant. This makes me excited because I will be constantly learning in my career and can change directions if the path I originally choose does not feel right for me. Once I graduate, I plan on celebrating by going on a nice, relaxing vacation to let myself unwind and soak in my accomplishment. Even if it is just a week of laying on a beach and doing nothing, it will feel good to know that it was well earned and the rest of my life has just begun. 

            Though most of my feelings regarding the end of nursing school are positive, there is some underlying anxiety regarding the future. The unknown has always scared me in which I might want to go in a certain direction right now but what if that doesn’t work out. I am also anxious regarding burnout in which due to COVID-19 nurses are getting burnt out faster and faster. Though these anxious thoughts trouble me from time to time I try to focus on the positives and the weight of my accomplishment. I know one thing for certain and that is my passion for nursing in which I hope that will be enough to overcome this anxiety and become a great nurse.

            Since this is my last and final semester of nursing school, it is important to set goals and continue to stay on track so that I succeed. For this semester, my goal is to devote 2-3 evenings per week to review or study material in each of my classes. Overall, I think this will help me succeed in which it will encourage me to learn the information more this semester rather than relying on memorization. Even if it is just an hour or two before I go to bed, any review will help me remember and retain the information I learn in each class. I will also continue to use ATI to prepare for the upcoming NCLEX prior to and after graduation. From the ATI modules I have been able to learn the importance of taking my time on each question and not rushing in which most questions I got wrong were because I didn’t fully read the question and each answer. For this reason, when I take the NCLEX-RN, I will be sure to take my time and carefully read each question and its options so that I give my best answer and hopefully pass on the first try. Though nursing school has brought upon a rollercoaster of emotions, I am proud to be where I am now and of the knowledge I have gained over the past four years.